Oro, John F.2022-09-202022-09-201973197317971924https://hdl.handle.net/10657/11533Water samples were collected from Clear Lake and three of its major tributaries and subjected to solvent extraction. The volatile organic compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and as many as possible were identified and traced to their source tributary. The samples were also analyzed for dissolved and particulate organic carbon and further characterized by stable carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The results of these analyses indicate that Clear Lake and its tributaries contain substantial amounts of pollutant organic carbon, and that the major portion of this carbon is petrochemical or petroleum in nature. The data also indicates that both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and combined dissolved/particulate organic carbon and stable carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry are not only effective in evaluating types and amounts of organic pollutants, but are also effective in tracing them to their source tributary.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital